Calculate employee pay including shift differentials, overtime, and multiple pay premiums. Supports weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly pay periods — with USD, EUR, and GBP. Works as a night shift pay calculator, weekend differential calculator, and holiday pay calculator in one tool.
Enter hourly pay, standard hours, overtime, and any shift differentials for a complete pay breakdown.
Fill in your work details and click Calculate to see a full pay breakdown including overtime and shift differentials.
Four straightforward steps to a complete, accurate pay breakdown — no spreadsheets needed.
Input the employee's standard hourly rate, their regular weekly hours, and any overtime hours worked. Enter the overtime multiplier you use — 50% for time-and-a-half, 100% for double time.
Click "Add Differential" to label each shift premium — night shift, weekend, holiday, and so on. Choose percentage-based or fixed-amount, enter the rate, and the number of hours worked at that rate. Stack as many as needed.
Select whether you're calculating weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly pay. Then choose your currency — US Dollar, Euro, or British Pound. The calculator scales all figures automatically.
Hit Calculate and instantly see regular pay, total differential pay, overtime pay, and the grand total for your selected pay period — with a plain-English explanation of every calculation step.
Charlie earns $20/hr and worked 45 hours: 40 standard and 5 overtime at 1.5×. Five of those hours fell on the weekend, which pays a $3/hr fixed differential ($15 in total). His regular rate for the week is ($20 × 45 + $15) ÷ 45 = $20.33, so each overtime hour pays $20 + 50% × $20.33 = $30.17.
Understanding the math helps you verify every paycheck and stay compliant with FLSA overtime rules.
A percentage is added on top of the base rate for qualifying shift hours. The most common method in healthcare, manufacturing, and security.
A flat dollar amount added per hour regardless of base rate. Simple, predictable, and easy to explain to employees on any shift schedule.
| Shift Type | Typical Multiplier | Typical Differential | Example ($20 base) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 1× | 0% | $20.00/hr |
| Evening | 1.1–1.25× | 10–25% | $22–$25/hr |
| Night | 1.15–1.5× | 10–30% | $23–$30/hr |
| Weekend | 1.15–1.5× | 10–30% | $23–$30/hr |
| Holiday | 1.5–2× | 50–100% | $30–$40/hr |
| Overtime (FLSA min.) | 1.5× | 50% | $30.00/hr |
Everything you need to know about how shift premiums work, who qualifies, and how they interact with overtime.
Shift differential pay is additional compensation employees earn for working outside standard business hours — such as nights, weekends, or holidays. It helps employers fill hard-to-staff shifts while giving workers the opportunity to earn more than their regular hourly rate.
Shift differentials are separate from overtime pay. They are typically an employer policy or union agreement — not a legal requirement — though they become legally relevant when they interact with overtime calculations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Under the FLSA, overtime pay must be at least 1.5× an employee's regular rate of pay — not just their base wage. If a worker earns a shift differential during overtime hours, that premium must be factored into the overtime rate under 29 CFR § 778.207. Failing to account for this is one of the most common wage-compliance errors.
For example: if Charlie earns $20/hr plus a $3/hr weekend differential on every hour he works that week, his regular rate is $23/hr, so time-and-a-half is $34.50/hr rather than $30. When the differential covers only some of the hours, the regular rate is a weighted average of all hours worked. This calculator uses that weighted-average method, but it is still an estimate: daily overtime rules, union contracts and employer policies can change the result.
| Industry | Typical Differential | Common Shift Types | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 10–30% | Night, Weekend, Holiday | Nurses and techs often see the highest premiums |
| Manufacturing | 5–20% | Evening, Night, Overnight | Three-shift rotations are standard |
| Retail & Hospitality | 10–20% | Weekend, Holiday | Holiday double-time common in many agreements |
| Public Safety | 10–25% | Night, Weekend | Police and fire often set by union contract |
| IT & Customer Support | 10–20% | Evening, Overnight | 24/7 helpdesk and NOC roles |
| Transportation & Logistics | 10–30% | Overnight, Weekend | Warehouse and delivery operations |
Shift differential pay itself is generally set by employer policy, not state law — but overtime rules that interact with it vary. This is general information, not legal advice.
| State | Shift Differential Mandate | Overtime Rule to Know |
|---|---|---|
| California | Not mandated | Daily overtime after 8 hrs/day (in addition to the federal 40 hrs/week rule) — differentials must be included in the regular rate for both |
| New York | Not mandated | Follows federal 40 hrs/week rule; spread-of-hours pay may also apply on long shifts |
| Texas | Not mandated | Follows federal FLSA 40 hrs/week rule only, no state-specific daily overtime |
| All other states | Not mandated | Federal FLSA 40 hrs/week rule applies unless a state adds its own daily/weekly threshold |
Because requirements can change and vary by employer agreement or union contract, always confirm current rules with your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division before relying on them for payroll decisions.
Need a calculator focused on one specific shift type? Try these.
A focused tool for calculating night shift premiums with overtime — including typical night differential rates by industry and FLSA compliance notes.
Open CalculatorCalculate weekend premium pay for Saturday and Sunday shifts, with overtime included and typical rates by industry.
Open CalculatorA dedicated overtime calculator for 1.5× and double-time pay, with optional shift differential support built in.
Open CalculatorCalculate 2× double time pay, with optional shift differential support — useful for holidays and California's daily overtime rule.
Open CalculatorCalculate holiday premium pay, including overtime and other stacked differentials, in one place.
Open CalculatorAnswers to the most common questions about shift differential pay, overtime, and calculator usage.